THROWING STICK. BOOMERANG. 351 



fingers, the spear lying between the fore-finger and thumb. 

 Previous to throwing it, a tremulous or vibratory motion 

 is given to it, which is supposed to add to the accuracy of 

 the aim: in projecting the spear, the wummera is retained 

 in the hand, and the use of this simple contrivance adds 

 greatly to the projectile force given to FIG. 149. 



the spear. They are well practised in 

 the use of these weapons."* Indeed, 

 Capt. Grey tells us that he has often 

 seen them kill a pigeon with a spear 

 at a distance of thirty yards, and Capt. 

 Cook says that " at a distance of fifty 

 yards these Indians were more sure of 

 their mark than we could be with a 

 single bullet."f The very long Austra- 

 lian spears are not thrown with the 

 wummera, but by the strength of the 

 arm alone. They have also several other 

 kinds of spears ; one of them, used for 

 striking turtle, has a moveable, barbed, 

 blade, which is attached by a string to 

 the butt end of the spear ; when the 

 turtle is struck, the shaft becomes de- 

 tached from the point, which remains 

 fixed in the body, while the shaft serves, 

 partly to impede the motions, and partly 

 as a float to indicate the position of 

 the turtle. A similar weapon is used by 

 the Esquimaux, the Mincopies, the Boomerang. 



Brazilian Indians, and other savages. But the most extra- 

 ordinary weapon, and one quite peculiar to Australia, is the, 

 boomerang. This is a curved stick, generally rounded on one 

 side, flat on the other, about three feet long and two inches wide, 

 * United States Explor. Exped., vol. i., p. 191. f Cook, I.e. p. 642. 



